Willamette University

University of Mannheim

University of California, Davis

St. Mary's School

Commercialization Manager at Taylor Farms

Monterey, California, United States

Taylor Farms

Commercialization Manager

I currently lead the development and optimization of new or existing product and processes of fresh-cut vegetables, from formulation to final customer. Knowledgeable about process engineering, physicochemical properties of foods, microbiology, and has an understanding of how machinery is designed, functions and interacts with food. Lead the design, coordination and execution of research and trials; develop recommendations accordingly and help drive product and/or process decisions for the business.

Conduct research trials for the optimization of fresh-cut unit operations to maximize efficiencies, quality improvement and cost reductions of new and existing processes and/or products, including proof of concept testing, technical feasibility, scale-up and manufacturing trials of proposed projects. Collect and analyze data, deduct the significance of the experimental results and provide conclusions, recommendations and next steps to team members and stakeholders in technical project reports. I support Operations, Marketing and Sales teams for product launches. Support R&D laboratory activities and management, including lab equipment maintenance and development of R&D SOP’s.

Earthbound Farm

R&D Food Process Engineer

Led the development and optimization of new and existing product and processes of fresh-cut vegetables. I was hand-selected as part of a new commercialization team that successfully launched 90+ new items (salads, kits, and commodities) across the Earthbound brand and private label customers (Albertsons, Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Whole Foods, etc.) in 2018.

I was responsible for providing product information and generating finished-product specifications for all components of a new product including: raw material, formula, blueprint, packaging, ingredient statement, palletization, and nutritional information for both branded and private label customers, including management of their specification systems.

Food Scientist

Conducted product evaluation studies to validate shelf life on new items as well as raw or commodity product. This helped the commercialization team launch product on-deliverable timelines in accordance with our high quality assurance program.

In a small team of two, we worked cohesively and efficiently with the Marketing and Sales team to deliver benchtop samples of new innovation items to all customer meetings. Successfully driving sales and increasing category growth.

Food Technologist

This was an extremely fast-paced job that required constant attention to the customer as well as technical knowledge of the diverse products sold. As a small international triathlon shop customer service excellence was of utmost importance. In a matter of months, I became the top sales associate and was promoted to Lead Sales Associate at Bikeworks Beach & Sports in Waikoloa, HI.

This was my first retail jobs (as well as my favorite!) and showed me that I had a passion for customer service and sales. I enjoyed the thrill of closing in on big sales (~$1,000 USD), the international connections forged from tourists passing by, and the fast paced environment that race week brought. After moving to California, to pursue my career, I decided to maintain my favorite job at one of my favorite retailers. I, simultaneously, worked for REI and Earthbound Farm and expanded my knowledge and love for the outdoors.

Lead Sales Associate

I worked with a small team of 3 to receive and prepare patients (est. 18 per day). The environment was extremely fast paced with no room for errors. I took and recorded vital signs, prepared trays, assisted in surgery, and instructed patients on post-operative care/wound management.  Updated/maintained patient files. Cleaned/sterilized surgical instruments and operating room. Monitored and maintained sterilization/surgical equipment.

Implemented a new inventory system to help manage inventory for 3 surgical offices on the island. The new barcode system allowed us to know when things were low on stock as well as the flow of particular items. Furthermore, it improved our time efficiency in restocking at the end of day.

The Offices of Dr. Joan Greco

Oral Surgical Assistant

I worked as a research technician under Emma Coddington's lab at Willamette University, funded by a NSF CAREER award ($585,000) and NSF grant ($404,000), whose research examines how the brain and body interact in response to stress, and the mechanisms that lead to decision-making and stress-resilience.

I led an imaging study investigating mechanism of action of TRPV1 in hindbrain, examining targets for endogenous cannabinoids in the hindbrain of newts. I performed surgical hindbrain removal of rough-skinned newt and thinly sectioned tissue with a cryostat as well as analyzed samples using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Additionally, I helped trained students in the operating procedures for all lab aspects. This included the surgical, solution, cryostat, and imaging procedures.

Research Technician

Performed complex data analysis to identify fruit fly trends throughout raspberry growth stages, determine limiting factors in strawberry production, and measure sugar content of blackberry varietals. Gathered data for performance qualification (PQ) and hold tests to determine research sample capacity for maintaining acceptable temperatures. Produced online maps for ranch management.

Reiter Affiliated Companies

Field Researcher

This job began as a general labor personnel, as an exercise to understand how hard manual labor could be and why I should value my privileged education. A lesson my father thought it best learned early.

Work began at five in the morning on a cold strawberry field that slowly grew hotter as the day went on. Work ended at four in the afternoon on an early day and five on a regular day. The 12 hours of hard manual labor under the sun took a toil on the body during the first weeks, slowly the body and mind endured.

After a week of weed picking, I was promoted to help box and palletize as the harvesters finished their boxes. A couple of weeks later, I was promoted to check for strawberry quality on the field. At the end of the month, I managed to be promoted once more as a Production Assistant. I led a mercado machine on the strawberry fields with a crew of 7 workers. This was my first management experience and I ensured a balance for speeds, abilities, personalities, and work ethic in order to maintain efficiency in the crew.

Julio Silva